Hydrofilic urinary catheter having a water-containing sachet

ABSTRACT

A wetting apparatus ( 110 ) for wetting a hydrophilic urinary catheter ( 103 ) comprises a wetting receptacle ( 101 ) which defines a wetting fluid receiving area ( 102 ) for receiving the hydrophilic urinary catheter and a hydrophilic urinary catheter wetting fluid container ( 106 ) having a discharge outlet ( 126 ) movable from a closed position to an open position on application of a predetermined condition thereto to enable the wetting fluid to be discharged from the wetting fluid container. The wetting fluid container provided can be positioned in the wetting receptacle in an operational position in which at least the discharge outlet of the wetting fluid container is disposed within the bounds of the wetting receptacle, the wetting receptacle being so constructed and the wetting fluid container being so disposed relative to the wetting receptacle when in the operational position that application of the predetermined condition to the discharge outlet of the wetting fluid container when in the operational position enables the wetting fluid to be discharged into the wetting fluid receiving area for wetting of the hydrophilic urinary catheter.

[0001] The present invention relates to wetting apparatus for wetting ofhydrophilic urinary catheters comprising a wetting receptacle whichdefines a wetting fluid receiving area which is adapted to receive ahydrophilic urinary catheter and a hydrophilic urinary catheter wettingfluid container having a discharge outlet movable from a closed positionto an open position on application of a predetermined condition theretoto enable the wetting fluid to be discharged from the wetting fluidcontainer into the wetting fluid receiving area for wetting of thehydrophilic urinary catheter. The present invention further relates to afluid container of a type which may be used in such apparatus.

[0002] Intermittent self-catheterisation is widely employed by patientssuffering from for example strictures or traumas in the urinary systemas well as by paralysed patients to enable the patients to live a nearlynormal home life. Urinary catheters supplied for intermittentself-catheterisation in general need to have a lubricant applied to theouter surfaces thereof to facilitate insertion into the urethra. Forexample, hydrophilic urinary catheters have a hydrophilic outer surfacecoating which should be wetted by a fluid such as water or saline for acertain time period prior to insertion thereof into the urethra of apatient for lubrication purposes.

[0003] Various methods for lubricating urinary catheters have beenpreviously proposed, examples of which are given below.

[0004] Prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,726 makes known a self-lubricatingurinary catheter and a method for self-catherisation. The catheter hasan annular lubricant reservoir surrounding an inner tube havingperforations. As the catheter is inserted into the urethra of a patientlubricant is forced from the reservoir into the inner tube and out intothe urethra through a discharge outlet in the catheter. Lubrication ofthe outer surface of the catheter therefore only takes place as thecatheter is being inserted into the urethra of the patient resulting inat least some initial discomfort for the patient on insertion of thecatheter.

[0005] Prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,728 makes known a catheter packagecomprising a urinary catheter and a rupturable, lubricant containingpouch. One edge of the pouch is located within the package adjacent tothe tip of the catheter and the seal at that edge is made so that itruptures when the pouch is squeezed thereby to lubricate the tip of thecatheter. As only the tip of the catheter is lubricated the patient willstill suffer discomfort on insertion of the catheter into the urethra.

[0006] Prior UK patent application publication No. 2284764 makes known acatheter and urine collection bag assembly comprising (i) a catheterhaving a shaft with a rounded tip, a drainage aperture in the tip and aflared portion to the rear of the shaft, and (ii) a urine collection bagwithin which the catheter is disposed and which at a forward end isformable with an aperture which is sufficiently large to permit the tipand shaft of the catheter to pass through but small enough for theflared portion of the catheter to engage therewith to form a mechanicalseal against leakage of urine. Once the catheter has been extendedthrough the aperture it is ready to be inserted into the urethra of apatient. Urine is transported rearwardly through the catheter from thebladder of the patient for collection in the urine collection bag. It isdisclosed that a separate, burstable container containing a lubricioussubstance may be included within the urine collection bag forlubricating the catheter. No details are given, however, of theconstruction of the container nor of the disposition of the containerrelative to the catheter.

[0007] Applicant's prior International patent application publicationNo. WO86/06284 discloses a wetting and storage device for a hydrophilicurinary catheter. A wetting pocket is provided, closed at one end sothat it may be filled with a wetting liquid and a hydrophilic urinarycatheter is then introduced into the pocket for wetting thereof. Noliquid container, though, is provided in the device for releasingwetting liquid into the pocket immediately prior to use of the catheter.Wetting liquid for the pocket therefore has to be supplied separately bythe patient. This is inconvenient because a sterile supply of wettingliquid is not necessarily always on hand to the patient and there is amarked possibility of spillage of the wetting liquid.

[0008] The hitherto proposed lubricating apparatus for urinary cathetersdiscussed above have the drawback that they make no or inadequateprovision for lubricating hydrophilic urinary catheters. As an example,the lubricating arrangements made known in U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,728 andUK patent application publication No. 2284764 are for catheters ofnon-hydrophilic character, the lubricant therefore being a gel which isunsuited for lubricating a hydrophilic catheter. The prior lubricatingapparatus therefore fail to provide an integrated supply of hydrophilicurinary catheter wetting fluid let alone an integrated supply ofhydrophilic urinary catheter wetting fluid which on discharge results inwetting of the insertable length or substantially the insertable lengthof a hydrophilic urinary catheter prior to insertion of the catheterinto the urethra of a patient.

[0009] Patients using hydrophilic urinary catheters accordingly requireimproved means for lubricating the catheters. The present inventiontherefore proposes to address this requirement.

[0010] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided awetting apparatus for wetting a hydrophilic urinary catheter comprisinga wetting receptacle which defines a wetting fluid receiving area forreceiving a hydrophilic urinary catheter and a hydrophilic urinarycatheter wetting fluid container having a discharge outlet movable froma closed position to an open position on application of a predeterminedcondition thereto to enable the wetting fluid to be discharged from thewetting fluid container, the wetting fluid container being integratedwith the wetting receptacle in an operational position in which at leastthe discharge outlet of the wetting fluid container is disposed withinthe bounds of the wetting receptacle, the wetting receptacle being soconstructed and the wetting fluid container being so disposed relativeto the wetting receptacle when in the operational position thatapplication of the predetermined condition to the discharge outlet ofthe wetting fluid container when in the operational position enables thewetting fluid to be discharged into the wetting fluid receiving area forwetting of the hydrophilic urinary catheter and the wetting fluidreceiving area being adapted such that the insertable length orsubstantially the insertable length of the hydrophilic urinary catheteris wetted by the wetting fluid discharged into the wetting fluidreceiving area.

[0011] By “integrated” is meant that the wetting fluid container andwetting receptacle are formed into a one-piece unit, that is to say, thewetting fluid container is supported on or by the wetting receptacle.

[0012] An “on tap” supply of lubricant for the hydrophilic urinarycatheter is therefore available to the patient and the problem ofpossible spillage of the wetting fluid alleviated. Furthermore, anincreased comfort on insertion of the catheter into the urethra resultsdue to the insertable length or substantially the insertable length ofthe catheter being lubricated prior to insertion.

[0013] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided awetting apparatus for wetting a hydrophilic urinary catheter comprisinga wetting receptacle which defines a wetting fluid receiving area forreceiving a hydrophilic urinary catheter and a hydrophilic urinarycatheter wetting fluid container having a discharge outlet movable froma closed position to an open position on application of a predeterminedcondition thereto to enable the wetting fluid to be discharged from thewetting fluid container, the wetting fluid container being integrablewith the wetting receptacle in an operational position in which at leastthe discharge outlet of the wetting fluid container is disposed withinthe bounds of the wetting receptacle, the wetting receptacle being soconstructed and the wetting fluid container being so disposed relativeto the wetting receptacle when in the operational position thatapplication of the predetermined condition to the discharge outlet ofthe wetting fluid container when in the operational position enables thewetting fluid to be discharged into the wetting fluid receiving area forwetting of the hydrophilic urinary catheter. The problem of possiblespillage of the wetting fluid is also alleviated in this case andmanufacture, packaging and transport of the apparatus simplified.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the wetting fluid iswater or a saline solution.

[0015] In an embodiment of the invention hereinafter to be described thewetting fluid receiving area is an elongate pocket of length sufficientto accommodate at least the insertable length of the hydrophilic urinarycatheter and the wetting fluid container is adapted to containsufficient wetting fluid to fill the pocket to a level for wetting atleast the insertable length of the hydrophilic urinary catheter.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention hereinafter to bedescribed the wetting receptacle is a urine collection bag, the elongatepocket forms the forward portion of the urine collection bag andpresents an open rear end and a weakened closed forward end which isremovable upon application of a predetermined pressure thereto therebyto enable a portion of the hydrophilic urinary catheter comprising atleast the insertable length thereof to be projected through the forwardend of the pocket after wetting thereof for insertion into the urethraof a patient and the urine collection bag further comprises a urinecollection chamber to the rear of the elongate pocket, the urinecollection chamber having a forward end which is in fluid communicationwith the open rear end of the pocket and being adapted in use to collecturine transported rearwardly through the hydrophilic urinary catheterafter insertion thereof into the urethra of the patient.

[0017] A typical sterilising agent which could be used for sterilisingthe wetting apparatus of the invention is ethylene oxide. Moreover, thefluid in the fluid container would normally be sterile. For thesereasons, the wetting fluid container is preferably made of a materialwhich is impermeable or substantially impermeable to ethylene oxide aswell as the fluid contained therein. Non-limiting examples of materialssatisfying this condition when the fluid is water or saline arealuminium foil, poly(vinylidene chloride) or a metallised film such asmetallised poly(ethylene terepthalate).

[0018] In an embodiment of the invention hereinafter to be described thewetting fluid container is fully contained within the bounds of thewetting receptacle and may be permanently fixed to the inner surface ofthe wetting receptacle.

[0019] In an embodiment of the invention the wetting fluid container isan integrally formed compartment of the wetting receptacle.

[0020] In an embodiment of the invention hereinafter to be described thewetting receptacle is formed of a flexible material and the dischargeoutlet is brought to the open position through application of apredetermined force to the wetting fluid container through the materialof the wetting receptacle.

[0021] In an embodiment of the invention hereinafter to be described thewetting receptacle is provided with an inlet which is in fluidcommunication with the wetting fluid receiving area and the wettingfluid container is integrable with the wetting receptacle in theoperational position by insertion of at least a forward portion thereofin the inlet, the forward portion of the wetting fluid containerpresenting the discharge outlet.

[0022] In an embodiment of the invention hereinafter to be described thewetting fluid container is integrable with the wetting receptacle in theoperational position through a friction fit between the wetting fluidcontainer and the inlet of the wetting receptacle.

[0023] According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided afluid container for use with a receptacle having an inlet and a fluidreceiving area in fluid communication with the inlet, the fluidcontainer comprising a forward portion which is adapted to be positionedin the inlet of the receptacle and comprises a discharge outlet movableon application of a predetermined condition thereto from a closedposition in which the fluid is retained in the fluid container to anopen position in which the fluid is dischargeable forwardly from theforward portion of the fluid container, the predetermined condition ableto be applied to the discharge outlet when the forward portion of thefluid container is positioned in the inlet to enable the fluid containedin the fluid container to be discharged into the fluid receiving area ofthe receptacle. The fluid container therefore alleviates the problem ofspillage on discharge of the contents into the fluid receiving area.

[0024] In an embodiment of the invention according to its third aspecthereinafter to be described the fluid container is for use with areceptacle whose fluid receiving area is adapted in use to receive ahydrophilic urinary catheter and the fluid container contains a fluidwhich on discharge into the fluid receiving area wets the hydrophiliccoating of the catheter.

[0025] In an embodiment of the invention hereinafter to be described thefluid container comprises predetermined condition applying means forapplying the predetermined condition to the discharge outlet to bringthe discharge outlet to the open position.

[0026] In an embodiment of the invention hereinafter to be described theforward portion of the fluid container is positioned in the inlet of thereceptacle when the fluid container is in the operational position, thefluid container comprises a rearward portion which in the operationalposition of the fluid container projects from the inlet of thereceptacle and the rearward portion comprises at least a part of thepredetermined condition applying means.

[0027] In an embodiment of the invention hereinafter to be described thedischarge outlet comprises an area of weakness in the material of theforward portion of the fluid container which on application of apredetermined force thereto is brought to the open position.

[0028] In an embodiment of the invention hereinafter to be described theat least a part of the predetermined condition applying means comprisedof the rearward portion of the fluid container is a tab which onapplication of a predetermined pulling force thereto causes thepredetermined force to be applied to the area of weakness in thematerial of the forward portion of the fluid container.

[0029] In an embodiment of the invention hereinafter to be described thearea of weakness in the material of the forward portion of the fluidcontainer is a tear line which is torn on application of thepredetermined pulling force to the tab. The predetermined conditionapplying means further comprises holding means for holding the fluidcontainer in the operational position against the action of thepredetermined pulling force applied to the tab.

[0030] In an embodiment of the invention hereinafter to be described thereceptacle is of a flexible material and the holding means is providedon the forward portion to be gripped by a user through the material ofthe receptacle when the fluid container is in the operational position.

[0031] In an embodiment of the invention hereinafter to be described theforward portion of the fluid container presents a forward edge, the tearline extends rearwardly from the forward edge, the tab is a first tabwhich extends rearwardly from the forward edge of the forward portion ona first side of the tear line and is of such dimensions that when thefluid container is in the operational position the first tab projectsfrom the inlet of the receptacle, the holding means for holding thefluid container in the operational position against the action of thepulling force applied to the first tab is a second tab which extendsforwardly from the forward edge on a second opposite side of the tearline and application of a predetermined rearward pulling force on thefirst tab relative to the second tab causes the tear line to tear andthe fluid to be dischargeable from the fluid container into the fluidreceiving area of the receptacle.

[0032] In embodiments of the invention hereinafter to be described thefluid container takes the form of a sachet.

[0033] In an embodiment of the invention according to its third aspecthereinafter to be described the fluid container is adapted to beintegrated with the receptacle by friction fit in the inlet of thereceptacle to maintain the fluid container in the operational position.An integrated unit is thus obtained having the benefits of the apparatusaccording to the first and second aspects of the invention.

[0034] In an embodiment of the invention according to its third aspectthe fluid container contains water or saline and is made of aluminiumfoil, poly(vinylidene chloride) or a metallised film such as metallisedpoly(ethylene terepthalate).

[0035] The present invention has the advantage of providing a safe,compact, sterile and disposable wetting apparatus for a hydrophilicurinary catheter which is easy to handle. This is due to the provisionof a wetting fluid container component part which is adapted tocooperate with a wetting receptacle component part of the apparatus soas to be able to release its contents into the wetting receptacle to weta hydrophilic urinary catheter placed therein under clean conditions,that is to say, without the need for touching of the catheter, fluid orinner surface of the wetting receptacle thereby avoiding or alleviatingthe risk of introducing contaminants.

[0036] By way of example embodiments of the invention will now bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0037]FIG. 1 shows a wetting apparatus according to a first embodimentof the invention comprising a urine collection bag and a wetting fluidcontainer integrated therewith;

[0038]FIG. 2 shows a wetting apparatus according to a second embodimentof the invention comprising a urine collection bag and an unopenedwetting fluid sachet in accordance with the invention integratedtherewith in an operational position in the inlet of the urinecollection bag;

[0039]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the unopened sachet of the wettingapparatus shown in FIG. 2 in the operational position in the inlet ofthe urine collection bag;

[0040]FIG. 4 is a front view of the unopened sachet of the wettingapparatus shown in FIG. 2 in an extended configuration prior toinsertion thereof into the inlet of the urine collection bag to theoperational position;

[0041]FIG. 5 is a side view of the unopened sachet shown in FIG. 4;

[0042]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the unopened sachet of the wettingapparatus shown in FIG. 2 in a retracted configuration ready forinsertion into the inlet of the urine collection bag to the operationalposition;

[0043]FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG. 2 but with the wetting fluid sachethaving been opened; and

[0044]FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 3 but with the wetting fluid sachethaving been opened.

[0045] Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a wetting apparatus 10according to the invention comprising a urine collection bag 1 of atransparent flexible plastics material. The bag 1 presents at theforward end thereof an elongate pocket 2 of depth sufficient to receiveat least the insertable length of a hydrophilic urinary catheter 3. Theurine collection bag 1 further defines to the rear of the pocket 2 aurine collection chamber 12 which is in fluid communication with thepocket 2. Further rearwardly is an inlet 14 to the urine collection bag1 through which the hydrophilic urinary catheter 3 is able to beintroduced into the bag 1.

[0046] As can be seen, the catheter 3 comprises a flared rearwardportion 16 and an elongate shaft 18 which extends forwardly from therearward portion 16 and terminates in a rounded tip 4 at the forward endthereof The catheter 3 is provided with a lumen (not shown) whichextends from an open end in the rearward portion 16 to a drainageaperture 5 in the tip 4.

[0047] A container in the form of a sachet 6 is secured to the innersurface of the urine bag 1. The sachet 6 contains sterile water orsaline or other fluid suitable for wetting the hydrophilic urinarycatheter 3 and is pierceable or otherwise openable, for example byapplying a hand pressure, so as to release substantially all of thewater or saline contained therein into the pocket 2 immediately prior touse of the catheter 3.

[0048] Typically, the urine collection bag 1 with integrated sachet 6and, where pre-packaged therewith, the catheter 3 will be sterilisedusing ethylene oxide. Since the sachet 6 contains sterile water orsaline there is no need for sterilising the contents of the sachet 6.Accordingly, the material of the sachet 6 is preferably impermeable toethylene oxide and water. Non-limiting examples of materials meetingthese requirements are poly(vinylidene chloride) (PVDC), aluminium foillaminates and metallised films, for example metallised poly(ethyleneterepthalate). Other sterilisation processes could of course be usedinstead, for example by irradiation in which case the fluid in thesachet 6 could be sterilised in situ at the same time as the rest of thecomponents of the apparatus 10.

[0049] The volume of the sachet 6 is sufficient to release such anamount of water or saline into the pocket 2 to enable wetting of theinsertable length of the catheter 3 immediately prior to use. By“insertable length” is meant at least that length of the elongate shaft18 which is coated with a hydrophilic material, for example PVP, andinserted into the urethra of the patient. Typically, this will be 80-140mm for a female patient and 200-350 mm for a male patient.

[0050] The holding time of the catheter 3 in the pocket 2 may varywithin a broad range but will typically amount to at least 30 seconds.

[0051] The location of the sachet 6 inside the bag 1 is not critical aslong as the sachet 6 releases its contents into the pocket 2. It ispreferred, though, that the sachet 6 be disposed as close to the openend of the pocket 2 as possible. In this embodiment the sachet 6 ispermanently fixed in position in the urine collection bag 1, for exampleby adhesion to the bag 1. It will be appreciated, however, that thesachet 6 could in fact be freely movable in the bag 1. The fundamentalpoint is that the sachet 6 is within the bounds of the bag 1 so that thetwo components form an integrated unit.

[0052] In use, the catheter 3 is introduced into the bag 1 through theinlet 14 and the elongate shaft 18 manoeuvred into the pocket 2 asshown. The inlet 14 is then sealed, for example by tying a knot in thematerial defining the inlet 14 or by clamping the inlet 14 with a clamp.The sachet 6 is then opened, for example by applying a pressure theretothrough the material of the bag 1, to release the wetting fluid into thepocket 2 and the catheter 3 left to soak for a predetermined duration inthe wetting fluid to wet the hydrophilic outer surface thereofAlternately, the bag 1 may be provided with a closed end in place of theinlet with the catheter 3 pre-packaged inside the bag 1. An inlet 14 ispreferred, though, where ethylene oxide is the sterilising agent as thisprovides a pathway for the ethylene oxide to enter and exit the insideof the bag 1.

[0053] After wetting of the catheter 3 for the predetermined duration,the bag 1 is turned upside down and the forwardmost portion of thepocket 2 torn off. The elongate shaft 18 of the catheter 3 is thenmanoeuvred through the opening in the forward end of the pocket 2 andinto the urethra of the patient until the flared rearward portion 16forms a mechanical seal connection with the opening. There is thereforeno need to directly handle the catheter 3 for insertion thereof into theurethra which is to advantage as the outer surface of the catheter 3will be slippery due to the wetting procedure and therefore difficult togrip and furthermore because the possibility of contamination of thecatheter 3 at this stage is avoided.

[0054] Urine in the bladder of the patient is transported rearwardlythrough the lumen of the catheter 3 into the urine collection chamber12. The catheter 3 is manoeuvred back inside the bounds of the bag 1 andthe open end of the pocket 2 closed off for example by tying a knot withthe material defining the pocket 2 or clamping the pocket 2 with aclamp. An opening can then be made in the urine collection chamber 12for the collected urine to be poured away after which the bag 1 can bedisposed of.

[0055] Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, there is shown analternative wetting apparatus 110 according to the present invention.The wetting apparatus 110 comprises a urine collection bag 101 of aflexible transparent plastics material which corresponds to the urinecollection bag 1 of the wetting apparatus 10 hereinbefore described withreference to FIG. 1 of the drawings. That is to say, the urinecollection bag 101 has a downwardly extending elongate pocket 102 at theforward end, a urine collection chamber 112 rearwardly of and in fluidcommunication with the elongate pocket 102 and an inlet 114 to the bag101 spaced further rearwardly.

[0056] Again as in the wetting apparatus 10 hereinbefore described withreference to FIG. 1, a hydrophilic urinary catheter 103 having a flaredrearward portion 116, an elongate shaft 118 projecting forwardly fromthe rearward portion 116 and an open-ended lumen (not shown) whichextends from the rear end of the rearward portion 116 to a drainageaperture 105 in the rounded tip 104 at the forward end of the catheter103 is able to be inserted into the urine collection bag 101 through theinlet 114 such that preferably at least the insertable length of thecatheter 103 is received in the pocket 102.

[0057] As can be seen more particularly by reference to FIG. 3, awetting fluid containing sachet 106 is inserted into the inlet 114 to anoperational position in which it is held in place by a friction fit. Thesachet 106 has a forward portion 120 which in the operational positionof the sachet 106 projects forwardly into the inlet 114 and a rearwardportion 122 which in the operational position projects rearwardly out ofthe inlet 114.

[0058] The sachet 106 is preferably made of aluminium foil, particularlywhen ethylene oxide is the sterilising agent for the apparatus 110 andthe sachet contains sterile water or saline solution. Where ethyleneoxide is the sterilising agent for the apparatus 110 the fit of thesachet 106 in the inlet 114 is not so tight as to prevent ethylene oxidefrom entering and exiting the inside of the bag 101 and sterilising theinner surface of the bag 101 and outer surfaces of the sachet 106 andcatheter 103. The wetting fluid is retained in the sachet 106 byperipheral sealing of the sachet 106 as shown.

[0059] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the forward portion 120 of thesachet 106 presents a forward edge 124. Extending rearwardly from theforward edge 124 is a tear line 126. Projecting forwardly from theforward edge 124 of the sachet 106 to one side of the tear line 126 is afirst tab 128. On the other side of the tear line 126 there is providedan elongate second tab 130 shown here in an extended position in whichthe second tab 130 projects forwardly from the forward edge 124.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 6, the elongate second tab 130 is movable aboutthe forward edge 124 back on its self from the extended position shownin FIGS. 4 and 5 to a retracted position in which the second tab 130extends rearwardly from the forward edge 124. When the second tab 130 isin the retracted position the sachet 106 is inserted into the inlet 114to the operational position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0061] Returning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that thedimensions of the second tab 130 are such that when the sachet 106 is inthe operational position a pulling portion 132 of the second tab 130projects rearwardly from the inlet 114 of the urine collection bag 101and forms a part of the rearward portion 122 of the sachet 106.

[0062] In FIGS. 7 and 8 there is shown the operation of the sachet 106to release the contents of the sachet 106 into the pocket 102 to wet thehydrophilic outer coating of the catheter 103. The user grips the firsttab 128 through the flexible transparent plastics material of the bag101 and then pulls rearwardly on the pulling portion 132 of the secondtab 130 which projects from the inlet 114 to cause the tear line 126 tobe torn and the wetting fluid to be released into the pocket 102 to wetthe catheter 103. Preferably, the sachet 106 contains sufficient wettingfluid for the pocket 102 to be filled to a level which results in theinsertable length of the catheter 103 being wetted .

[0063] After release of the wetting fluid into the pocket 102 the sachet106 is removed from the bag 101 and disposed of. The bag 101 andcatheter 103 are then utilised in the manner hereinabove described forthe wetting apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1.

[0064] If need be, the bag 101 can be a closed bag with the sachet 106and catheter 103 pre-packaged within the bag 101. In this instance, theconstruction of the bag 101 is such that the sachet 106 can be opened inthe aforementioned manner through the material of the bag 101.

[0065] The wetting apparatus 110 described hereinabove with reference toFIGS. 2 to 8 has the advantage of inter alia (i) being environmentallyfriendly in the sense that where the sachet 106 is made of Al foil thesachet is able to be disposed of separately from the bag 101 thusfacilitating recycling of the Al foil; and (ii) having a sachet 106which can better withstand the cyclical pressures which are typicallyexerted on wetting apparatus when packaged and subjected to asterilising process as a consequence of the sachet 106 not having to beopened through application of a direct pressure thereto through thematerial of the bag 101 in which case a significantly weakened sachetedge would be required as a high pressure could not be applied throughthe bag 101 without damaging the bag 101.

[0066] In the exemplary embodiments hereinabove described with referenceto the Figures of drawings the supply of wetting fluid for wetting ofthe hydrophilic urinary catheter takes the form of a separate sachetintegrated into the wetting receptacle. It will be appreciated by thoseversed in the art that the supply could also take the form of anintegrally formed chamber in the material of the wetting receptaclewithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A wetting apparatus for wetting a hydrophilic urinary cathetercomprising a wetting receptacle which defines a wetting fluid receivingarea for receiving a hydrophilic urinary catheter and a hydrophilicurinary catheter wetting fluid container having a discharge outletmovable from a closed position to an open position on application of apredetermined condition thereto to enable the wetting fluid to bedischarged from the wetting fluid container characterised in that thewetting fluid container is integrated with the wetting receptacle in anoperational position in which at least the discharge outlet of thewetting fluid container is disposed within the bounds of the wettingreceptacle, the wetting receptacle being so constructed and the wettingfluid container being so disposed relative to the wetting receptaclewhen in the operational position that application of the predeterminedcondition to the discharge outlet of the wetting fluid container when inthe operational position enables the wetting fluid to be discharged intothe wetting fluid receiving area for wetting of the hydrophilic urinarycatheter and that the insertable length or substantially the insertablelength of the hydrophilic urinary catheter is wetted by the wettingfluid discharged into the wetting fluid receiving area.
 2. A wettingapparatus for wetting a hydrophilic urinary catheter comprising awetting receptacle which defines a wetting fluid receiving area forreceiving a hydrophilic urinary catheter and a hydrophilic urinarycatheter wetting fluid container having a discharge outlet movable froma closed position to an open position on application of a predeterminedcondition thereto to enable the wetting fluid to be discharged from thewetting fluid container characterised in that the wetting fluidcontainer is integrable with the wetting receptacle in an operationalposition in which at least the discharge outlet of the wetting fluidcontainer is disposed within the bounds of the wetting receptacle, thewetting receptacle being so constructed and the wetting fluid containerbeing so disposed relative to the wetting receptacle when in theoperational position that application of the predetermined condition tothe discharge outlet of the wetting fluid container when in theoperational position enables the wetting fluid to be discharged into thewetting fluid receiving area for wetting of the hydrophilic urinarycatheter.
 3. A wetting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,characterised in that the wetting fluid is water or a saline solution.4. A wetting apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised inthat the wetting fluid receiving area is an elongate pocket of lengthsufficient to accommodate at least the insertable length of thehydrophilic urinary catheter and that the wetting fluid container isadapted to contain sufficient wetting fluid to fill the pocket to alevel for wetting at least the insertable length of the hydrophilicurinary catheter.
 5. A wetting apparatus according to claim 4,characterised in that the wetting receptacle is a urine collection bag,that the elongate pocket forms the forward portion of the urinecollection bag and presents an open rear end and a weakened closedforward end which is removable upon application of a predeterminedpressure thereto thereby to enable a portion of the hydrophilic urinarycatheter comprising at least the insertable length thereof to beprojected through the forward end of the pocket after wetting thereoffor insertion into the urethra of a patient, and that the urinecollection bag further comprises a urine collection chamber to the rearof the elongate pocket, the urine collection chamber having a forwardend which is in fluid communication with the open rear end of the pocketand being adapted in use to collect urine transported rearwardly throughthe hydrophilic urinary catheter after insertion thereof into theurethra of the patient.
 6. A wetting apparatus according to any one ofthe preceding claims, characterised in that the wetting fluid containercontains sterile water or saline solution and is made of a materialwhich is impermeable to ethylene oxide and water or saline solution. 7.A wetting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims,characterised in that the wetting fluid container is made of aluminiumfoil, poly(vinylidene chloride) or a metallised film such as metallisedpoly(ethylene terepthalate).
 8. A wetting apparatus according to any oneof the preceding claims, characterised in that the wetting fluidcontainer is fully contained within the bounds of the wettingreceptacle.
 9. A wetting apparatus according to claim 8, characterisedin that the wetting fluid container is permanently fixed to the innersurface of the wetting receptacle.
 10. A wetting apparatus according toclaim 8, characterised in that the wetting fluid container is anintegrally formed compartment of the wetting receptacle.
 11. A wettingapparatus according to claim 8, 9 or 10, characterised in that thewetting receptacle is formed of a flexible material and that thedischarge outlet is brought to the open position through application ofa predetermined force to the wetting fluid container through thematerial of the wetting receptacle.
 12. A wetting apparatus according toany one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the wetting receptacleis provided with an inlet which is in fluid communication with thewetting fluid receiving area and that the wetting fluid container isintegrable with the wetting receptacle in the operational position byinsertion of at least a forward portion thereof in the inlet, theforward portion of the wetting fluid container presenting the dischargeoutlet.
 13. A wetting apparatus according to claim 12, characterised inthat the wetting fluid container is integrable with the wettingreceptacle in the operational position through a friction fit betweenthe wetting fluid container and the inlet of the wetting receptacle. 14.A wetting apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in thatthe wetting fluid container comprises predetermined condition applyingmeans for applying the predetermined condition to the discharge outletto bring the discharge outlet to the open position.
 15. A wettingapparatus according to claim 14, characterised in that the forwardportion of the wetting fluid container is positioned in the inlet of thewetting receptacle when the wetting fluid container is in theoperational position, that the wetting fluid container comprises arearward portion which in the operational position of the wetting fluidcontainer projects from the inlet of the wetting receptacle and that therearward portion comprises at least a part of the predeterminedcondition applying means.
 16. A wetting apparatus according to any oneof claims 12 to 15, characterised in that the discharge outlet comprisesan area of weakness in the material of the forward portion of thewetting fluid container which on application of a predetermined forcethereto is brought to the open position.
 17. A wetting apparatusaccording to claim 16 as appendant to claim 15, characterised in thatthe at least a part of the predetermined condition applying meanscomprised of the rearward portion of the wetting fluid container is atab which on application of a predetermined pulling force thereto causesthe predetermined force to be applied to the area of weakness in thematerial of the forward portion of the wetting fluid container.
 18. Awetting apparatus according to claim 17, characterised in that the areaof weakness in the material of the forward portion of the wetting fluidcontainer is a tear line which is torn on application of thepredetermined pulling force to the tab.
 19. A wetting apparatusaccording to claim 17 or 18, characterised in that the predeterminedcondition applying means further comprises holding means for holding thewetting fluid container in the operational position against the actionof the predetermined pulling force applied to the tab.
 20. A wettingapparatus according to claim 19, characterised in that the wettingreceptacle is of a flexible material and that the holding means isprovided on the forward portion to be gripped by a user through thematerial of the wetting receptacle when the wetting fluid container isin the operational position.
 21. A wetting apparatus according to claim20, characterised in that the forward portion of the wetting fluidcontainer presents a forward edge, that the tear line extends rearwardlyfrom the forward edge, that the tab is a first tab which extendsrearwardly from the forward edge of the forward portion on a first sideof the tear line and is of such dimensions that when the wetting fluidcontainer is in the operational position the first tab projects from theinlet of the wetting receptacle, that the holding means for holding thewetting fluid container in the operational position against the actionof the pulling force applied to the first tab is a second tab whichextends forwardly from the forward edge on a second opposite side of thetear line and that application of a predetermined rearward pulling forceon the first tab relative to the second tab causes the tear line to tearand the wetting fluid to be dischargeable from the wetting fluidcontainer into the wetting fluid receiving area of the wettingreceptacle.
 22. A wetting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to9, claim 11 when appendant to claim 8 or 9, or any one of claims 12 to21, characterised in that the wetting fluid container takes the form ofa sachet.
 23. A fluid container for use with a receptacle having aninlet and a fluid receiving area in fluid communication with the inlet,the fluid container comprising a forward portion which is adapted to bepositioned in the inlet of the receptacle and comprises a dischargeoutlet movable on application of a predetermined condition thereto froma closed position in which the fluid is retained in the fluid containerto an open position in which the fluid is dischargeable forwardly fromthe forward portion of the fluid container, the predetermined conditionable to be applied to the discharge outlet when the forward portion ofthe fluid container is positioned in the inlet to enable the fluidcontained in the fluid container to be discharged into the fluidreceiving area of the receptacle.
 24. A wetting fluid container for usewith a wetting receptacle having an inlet and a wetting fluid receivingarea for receiving a hydrophilic urinary catheter and in fluidcommunication with the inlet, the wetting fluid container comprising aforward portion which is adapted to be positioned in the inlet of thereceptacle and comprises a discharge outlet movable on application of apredetermined condition thereto from a closed position in which thewetting fluid is retained in the wetting fluid container to an openposition in which the wetting fluid is dischargeable forwardly from theforward portion of the wetting fluid container, the predeterminedcondition able to be applied to the discharge outlet when the forwardportion of the wetting fluid container is positioned in the inlet toenable the wetting fluid contained in the wetting fluid container to bedischarged into the wetting fluid receiving area of the receptacle. 25.A fluid container according to claim 23 or 24, characterised in that thefluid container comprises predetermined condition applying means forapplying the predetermined condition to the discharge outlet to bringthe discharge outlet to the open position.
 26. A fluid containeraccording to claim 25, characterised in that when the forward portion ofthe fluid container is positioned in the inlet of the receptacle thefluid container is in an operational position, that the fluid containercomprises a rearward portion which in the operational position of thefluid container projects from the inlet of the receptacle and that therearward portion comprises at least a part of the predeterminedcondition applying means.
 27. A fluid container according to any one ofclaims 23 to 26, characterised in that the discharge outlet comprises anarea of weakness in the material of the forward portion of the fluidcontainer which on application of a predetermined force thereto isbrought to the open position.
 28. A fluid container according to claim27 as appendant to claim 26, characterised in that the at least a partof the predetermined condition applying means comprised of the rearwardportion of the fluid container is a tab which on application of apredetermined pulling force thereto causes the predetermined force to beapplied to the area of weakness in the material of the forward portionof the fluid container.
 29. A fluid container according to claim 28,characterised in that the area of weakness in the material of theforward portion of the fluid container is a tear line which is torn onapplication of the predetermined pulling force to the tab.
 30. A fluidcontainer according to claim 28 or 29, characterised in that thepredetermined condition applying means further comprises holding meansfor holding the fluid container in the operational position against theaction of the predetermined pulling force applied to the tab.
 31. Afluid container according to claim 30, characterised in that thereceptacle is of a flexible material and that the holding means isprovided on the forward portion to be gripped by a user through thematerial of the receptacle when the fluid container is in theoperational position.
 32. A fluid container according to claim 31,characterised in that the forward portion of the fluid containerpresents a forward edge, that the tear line extends rearwardly from theforward edge, that the tab is a first tab which extends rearwardly fromthe forward edge of the forward portion on a first side of the tear lineand is of such dimensions that when the fluid container is in theoperational position the first tab projects from the inlet of thereceptacle, that the holding means for holding the fluid container inthe operational position against the action of the pulling force appliedto the first tab is a second tab which extends forwardly from theforward edge to a second opposite side of the tear line and thatapplication of a predetermined rearward pulling force on the first tabrelative to the second tab causes the tear line to tear and the fluid tobe dischargeable from the fluid container into the fluid receiving areaof the receptacle.
 33. A fluid container according to claim 26, claim 27as appendant to claim 26 or any one of claims 28 to 32, characterised inthat the fluid container is adapted to be friction fitted in the inletof the receptacle to maintain the fluid container in the operationalposition.
 34. A fluid container according to any one of claims 23 to 33,characterised in that the fluid container is a sachet.
 35. A fluidcontainer according to any one of claims 23 to 34, characterised in thatthe fluid container is made of aluminium foil, poly(vinylidene chloride)or a metallised film such as metallised poly(ethylene terepthalate). 36.A fluid container according to any one of claims 23 to 35, characterisedin that the fluid container contains water or a saline solution.